Taking a Snow Day: A Moment with Bill Reflection

A Magical Morning

The snow had fallen while we slept, and when we awoke the world had transformed, the smudge of the city blanketed in purity.

I was twelve that morning as I peeled back the covers and raced to the window and looked out at a landscape that promised unlimited possibilities. Snow forts would be built. Hills would be sledded with reckless abandon. There were snowballs to throw, snowmen to bring to life and snowflakes to taste.

I rushed to dress in winter clothing, ran the toothbrush quickly over my teeth, and raced to the kitchen where mom had breakfast waiting and the news that school had been cancelled. Dad was just about to leave for work.

“What are you going to do with your snow day, Bill,” he asked as he headed for the front door.

“I’m going to go get Karl and see if he wants to start building a snow fort. Then we’ll call the other guys and have them come over for a snowball fight. Then we’ll probably go sledding on the 18th Street Hill,” I told him as I gulped down my Cheerios.

“Sounds great, buddy, but before you do that, how about grabbing the snow shovel and shoveling the sidewalk and driveway for Mr. and Mrs. Conrad?”

Damn!

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad were our next-door neighbors, eighty-somethings who were in no shape to be shoveling snow. Normally my dad would shovel their property but work was calling him and he was passing the torch of responsibility down to his son.

I’d Love to Change the World

“World pollution, there's no solution Institution, electrocution Just black and white, rich or poor Them and us, stop the war

I'd love to change the world But I don't know what to do So I'll leave it up to you.” (Ten Years After)

Passing the buck.

Turn your head, hope the problem goes away, or pray that someone else will take care of it.

That kind of thinking is beneath us as humans.

And yet we see it daily.

Complacency and apathy rule the day, the double-headed monsters that have infected society and rendered it purposeless. “I don’t know what to do, so I’ll leave it up to you.”

Imagine, for a moment, the ramifications of that kind of myopic thinking.

I can’t do a damn thing about it so why bother?

The problems are just too many. Someone else will have to deal with them.

I’m only one man. How can I possibly change the course of mighty rivers or bend steel in my bare hands?

So the muggings continue, the rapes, the trafficking, the drugs, drive-bys, homelessness, pillaging, hopelessness, joblessness, it all continues unabated and ignored by those who simply can’t be bothered by it all.

It is a cancer that is slowly eating healthy cells and leaving a diseased carcass in its wake, and if you look closely you’ll notice that the cancer and the carcass are one and the same.

I doubt seriously that you’ll ever see me on television giving a “I Have A Dream” speech to hundreds of thousands. I’m not a nationally-acclaimed figure nor will I ever be. I am not the CEO of a mega-corporation and I don’t have billions of dollars at my disposal with which to make changes.

I’m just a guy. One of seven-point-two billion guys and gals. I’m a dust mote on the ass of humanity if we really want to get real about it all.

What can I do?

I can do what I can do!

Sounds simplistic but it really isn’t, especially if a few million people followed suit.

I can hold doors open for people. I can smile more often. I can say “good afternoon” and “good morning” to people as I pass them on the street. I can reach out a hand to someone who needs a friend, and I can make an attempt to meet a stranger. I can be kinder, wiser, more forgiving and more giving. I can be compassionate and passionate, empathetic and energetic, and I can model the actions I would like to see in others.

Sheez, it turns out there is quite a bit I can do.

Who woulda thunk it?

This article will be read by several thousand people. If every one of those people did one act of kindness, and those acts were answered with reciprocation….and the ripple became a wave, and the wave washed over an entire landscape, scouring it clean and providing for new growth in its wake.

One Small Example

My wife and I go get a mocha every Saturday morning. Oftentimes we see the same vehicles in line to be served, so we tend to wave at folks we really don’t know but still recognize.

One of those people is a local cop. We only know he goes by the initials J.J., and he starts his shift just about the time we are getting our drinks every Saturday.

Last week J.J. was in front of us in line, and when we finally got to the drive-through window, we were told by the barista that J.J. had paid for our coffee.

A random act of kindness.

Pay it forward!

We did the same for a woman behind us in line the next day. As we were driving away from the coffee shop, we saw the woman roll down her window, lean out of her car, and start yelling “THANK YOU” to us and grinning at us.

It made our day.

It was so easy to do. A five-dollar gift for a complete stranger.

I'm ready to dig in. How about you? | Source

Back to the Snow Day

So I grabbed the snow shovel and I trudged over to the Conrad house. For the next hour I shoveled snow off their sidewalks and driveway, and when I finished our two old neighbors were standing on their porch waving at me and inviting me in. While I was shoveling, Mrs. Conrad made hot chocolate and warmed up some cookies, so I was given a treat for my efforts.

And you know what? I still had time to go sledding, have a snowball fight, build a snow fort and a snow man, and enjoy the hell out of that snow day. In other words, I didn’t miss out on a thing and I managed to make two old people very happy.

I remember going to bed that night feeling pretty darned good about life.

What do you say? Tomorrow let’s all have a “snow day” and see if we can’t share the love a bit. Afterwards, we’ll go sledding.

Comments

No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.

sending

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Just imagine, Genna! I held the door open at Fred Meyer yesterday and the woman looked at me suspiciously. Sad that it has come to that, but it still can change if we become instruments of that change.

I hope you had a wonderful Easter. Thank you for your friendship.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Deb, there is absolutely nothing I can add to your fine comment. Try it and you'll see indeed. Smart acts turn into huge movements. Thank you for sharing that.

Genna East 2 years agofrom Massachusetts, USA

Your opening paragraphs brought back memories from childhood and the anticipation of freshly fallen snow -- not to mention a snow day. This also harkened back to our recent winter and snow world in Massachusetts, where some neighbors helped each other. You are quite right in that complacency is tantamount to indifference…man’s greatest sin. Problems will not disappear if we bury out heads in the sand or snow, hoping that humanity’s problems will magically disappear. Imagine if we did one kind thing for someone else each day; like holding open that door; smiling at the strangers we meet and pass in our rush to manage our life of details. Just imagine. Wonderful article Bill. :-)

Deb Hirt 2 years agofrom Stillwater, OK

Today, tomorrow, and always. We are all in this together, my friend. We can become infectious, which is what I do EVERY day at the lake when I meet up with someone. It goes, on and ON AND ON. The more that you are there, people expect it. It is just like the brainwashing effect that the bad folks do, but good things are done instead. I wrote a piece about world peace(get it?) and asked for it to go around the world. It has been years, and it is still going. Try it, and you'll see. All you have to do is ask. Don't leave it up to people to do. Ask them to do it. So many people NEED that permission. I am very serious when I say that.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Thank you Linda and yes, that is the whole point of this exercise. Take the focus and place it where it is most needed....and maybe, if others do that, we will all have our basic needs met.

Linda Lum 2 years agofrom Washington State, USA

Bill, another gem. Those who read this as a story about "snow" really missed the point. Isn't "snow day" an analogy of taking a moment out of our day in which we are focused on ourselves and, instead, focus on the needs of others?

You did that on your real snow day, and at days end, recognized that not only did service to others not detract from your day, it actually made it better.

Thank you for another beautiful hub.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

You betcha, Marlene. I know you understand this completely.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope all is well, my friend.

Marlene Bertrand 2 years agofrom Northern California, USA

That's how we do it, Bill... each person helping one person would make a world of difference.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Very true, Mary! We receive so much more than we give when we do that...makes me wonder why more people don't do it often.

Mary Hyatt 2 years agofrom Florida

I try very hard to do just one small act of kindness each and every day. It just makes me feel good to do that! I believe in the Golden Rule.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

I love it, Dora! Thank you my friend, and Happy Weekend to you.

Dora Weithers 2 years agofrom The Caribbean

With you, Bill. I'm taking the "pay it forward" challenge as soon as I spot the opportunity. You inspire me.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Pop, that is a great example of this article. Thank you for sharing that and thank you for being a living example of this message.

breakfastpop 2 years ago

I agree, billy. It's the little things that make our world better despite way too much bad news. I have had incredible experiences with people throughout the years. I had a sunroom added to my house. I made sure that the workers had plenty to drink, fresh donuts and access to my bathroom. The contractor was so astounded that he built me a fabulous room, far better than the one I contracted and paid for! He told me that no one had ever been so kind to him or his men. I treat people the way I want to be treated. It really is that simple.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

And Kailey, you know I appreciate it. Thank you!

social thoughts 2 years agofrom New Jersey

You blend reflection with messages so well. You know I love your writing!

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Jackie, I'm laughing because I remember being a snow-removal machine that morning. I was just flinging that white stuff for all I was worth. LOL Thanks for reminding me of that.

Jackie Lynnley 2 years agofrom The Beautiful South

You make me smile Bill and I was thinking as I read if it were me I would just work twice as fast to make sure I still had some snow day; and sounds as if you did! Sometimes good things we did take us a lifetime to realize but better late than never and I think good deeds become dearer to us the older we get.

Great joy to read! ^+

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

DJ, I'm trying dear friend. One small act of kindness each day. It adds up over time.

Hope you are well.

Bill

DJ Anderson 2 years ago

Bill, like you expressed, there is power in giving. It is not the kind of

power as to run a country, but it is the kind of power that makes a

city shine like a new penny.

Small acts of kindness can become part of daily life, if we think to

see the opportunity, we will soon think to act.

As Ms. Paula always says, "Pay It Forward".

DJ.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Don, my goodness, I hope you guys see spring soon. The rest of us on the west coast are starting to feel guilty. LOL Thank you sir!

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Thank you for the return attempt, PS. They both came through.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

PS....I am only one man....a statement that appears to be a surrender, but one man can do so much if he is willing. I know you know this.

blessings always, PS

Bill

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

I do know that story, Rebecca....perfect choice of stories. Thank you!

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Vellur, I truly received more than they did from my act. It is the gift that keeps on giving. :) Thank you!

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Michael my friend, it is indeed a beautiful morning as the rain falls and the birds wash themselves in the rain. Have a splendid day my friend and thank you.

Don A. Hoglund 2 years agofrom Wisconsin Rapids

Good thoughts, Bill. We had a different snow day today. After a few days of spring weather and all the ice and snow melting, I got up to the ground and rooftops being covered with snow.

You are right that an occasional random act of kindness can spread a small bit of joy. sharing

Patricia Scott 2 years agofrom sunny Florida

Poohie my comment disappeared...

Too much to repeat....just suffice it to say as we have said many times...one baby step at a time we DO make a difference. Loved this Bill

Voted up++++ shared and pinned to Awesome HubPages.

Angels on the way to you and Bev and the chicks...waiting for an update on the girls...have not heard any hen house chatter in a bit.

ps

Patricia Scott 2 years agofrom sunny Florida

Yes, Rebecca, I do know that one too...and have done it, by the way.

You know we have talked about this many times...we 'can do what we can do.' And those baby steps if done by each of us does make a difference.

It does.

And so, we keep doing them....smiling, speaking, opening a door, sweep a porch, shoveling snow (not so much any more...raking leaves instead) and on and on...because it is 'our duty.'

Love to read here, Bill...every time

Know that many blessings and winging their way to you and Bev and the girls...how are they by the way??? You need to up date us on the chicks, please.

ps

Voted up++++ shared and pinned to Awesome HubPages

Rebecca Mealey 2 years agofrom Northeastern Georgia, USA

A beautiful little story! It kind of reminds me about throwing the one starfish back into the sea. Do you know the one?

Nithya Venkat 2 years agofrom Dubai

That was such a nice thing to do, shoveling off the snow from the Conrad's driveway and sidewalk. It must have been so good to see them smile and appreciate your act of kindness. If we all pass on an act of kindness to another this world will be a wonderful, happy place to live in. Great hub. Voted up.

Michael-Milec 2 years ago

Hi Bill.

Successful challenge, my friend. Great Hub.

Who can say 'no' to your enthusiasm to seize an opportunity for an act of kindness knowing inside that " my neighbor's" need is greater, then mine. You will find me there as always, spreading fragrance of love if not more than by a heartfelt greeting: Hello,

isn't this beautiful morning? Sprightly, following those refreshing drops of early spring rain cheering up birds as they spreading their melodies causing us not to think that prices of the grocery are almost the same while the sizes are at least by a quarter below average in extent..

Voted up and interesting.

Have a blessed week...

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Very true, Larry. I've tried that nuts thing and it didn't work out well at all. :) Thank you!

Heidi, hopefully all that snow stuff is over now. Thank you and here's hoping greener days are ahead of you.

Larry Rankin 2 years agofrom Oklahoma

"I can do what I can do." A great montra, do what you can do, and hope it makes the world better. If you're not satisfied with that, you wind up driving yourself nuts.

Great article!

Frank Atanacio 2 years agofrom Shelton

Billybuc because of time constraints I finished this in two sittings.. for that I apologize.. nonetheless you are a marvelous contemporary reflector with something to say, sometimes as rare as it is rewarding.. so you know Frank

Bill De Giulio 2 years agofrom Massachusetts

Great hub Bill. The message is clear, one small act of kindness can snowball into an avalanche. Plenty of snow days here this winter :)

Heidi Thorne 2 years agofrom Chicago Area

With our surprise "snow day" here in CHI on Monday, this was quite timely. :) Thanks for sharing the inspiration and motivation!

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Sara, I appreciate those kind words. Thank you so much.

Sara Sarwar Riaz 2 years agofrom Michigan, USA

Another effectual article… it's always a pleasure to come across these wonderfully written pieces. You have a special talent for leaving such impact on myriad minds with your words.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

I know you do, Bill, and I appreciate it. Thank you!

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Imagine indeed, Wiccan. I miss snow days too. Heck, I just miss the snow. We don't see much here. Anyway, thank you for your thoughts. It's nice hanging with people like you.

William Leverne Smith 2 years agofrom Hollister, MO

You know I love, and always support, positive messages. This one was very special. Excellent presentation... to keep us on track, throughout. THANKS! ;-)

Mackenzie Sage Wright 2 years ago

I miss snow days, lol. But I agree... changing the world doesn't need one person to do one big thing. If everyone just did little things it would change. I personally believe the greatest thing we can do for society is be a responsible person and a compassionate person. Do your best for yourself & family, then extend a hand to help someone else. Imagine if everyone did that. What a world.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Well Eric thank you! I'm glad you found it so enjoyable. Have a great snow day my friend.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

All very true, Schoolmom. It makes me wonder why we don't do more of it. Thanks for your thoughts.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Brad, thank goodness you cut it short. I was getting hungry but didn't want to leave in the middle of your harangue or early adult memory. LOL Great account of life on Long Island. i couldn't do it...wouldn't do it..too many people make Bill a grumpy old man.

Thanks for the chuckles. I'm afraid you are right on with your summation of today's political scene.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Sally, it most definitely counts as an act of kindness, and just re-affirms why I like you so much and consider you a friend. Blessings to you my kind friend.

Bill

Eric Dierker 2 years agofrom Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A.

Reading this is a remarkable and beautiful part of this day. Thank you

Schoolmom24 2 years agofrom Oregon

It is amazing how small things can make a difference - even a caring word to a stranger who's having a bad day can have a huge impact on them and sometimes we don't even know. Great hub!

bradmasterOCcal 2 years agofrom Orange County California

billybuc

There are several ways at looking at snow days.

As a child it is a fun day, but as we grow up the fun is replaced by utility.

Businesses don't close, and commuting starts with shoveling your car out of the driveway. Then hoping the snowplows have cleared at least the major streets.

If it is still snowing then it can get to be an exciting day.

Then you finally get to work, you question whether you can get home after work.

Growing up in NYC, snow has a very limited fun span, as the huge population, and vehicle traffic turn the shiny white veneer over to the not so pretty grey, and black.

Of course, things are much different if you can make it to Central Park.

When I was a teenager we moved to Long Island. The snow and its beauty lasted longer there than in the city.

LI is mostly a sandbar, and only the north part of it has hills. So sledding down a hill was a challenge.

Living in LI, I went to college in the City, and during finals we had a big snowstorm. I called the school and asked if the tests were still on for the day, and they said of course.

I walked the mile in the snow to the RR station. The snow hadn't piled up yet, so it wasn't bad. I waited on the platform for the train, and so far so good.

That train took me twenty five miles to a major train switching station, where I changed trains to get closer to the city. From there, I would take the subway five stations which would take me within four city blocks to the school.

It was about one pm, and I am coming up from the subway, and coming down the stairs are some of my classmates. I then learned that my trek was in vain, the finals were postponed. It was only about three hours since I phoned the school. Higher learning, I didn't think they were that intelligent, or was I just upset about the time I had wasted that day.

OK, back on the subway, at least I didn't have to make the four block trip to the school. I get to the changing the train station, and we had to wait an hour because the switches for the tracks were frozen.

The train came, I get on it, now the twenty five miles went as usual, the train didn't seem to have any trouble because of the snow.

It was warm and toasty sitting in the train looking out at the snow, and the snowy landscape.

The train made its several stops along the way, and now it was slowing down for the station where I would get off. As the train slowed down the station was filled with people standing out in the elements.

I felt sorry for them, as some of them had ice crystals stuck to their red, and frozen faces. It was surreal, it was like a movie, and I forgot that soon, I would be in that movie.

One mile on foot to get home, and it started out with the warmth and coziness of the heated train ride quickly being replaced by icy, snowy wind pelting my face.

The area around the train station had been plowed recently, but the snow kept falling and the parking lot was being coated once again.

I had to walk home, and although it was only a mile, it was turning out to be walking in almost hip high snow drifts. The street which was a main road had been plowed but the continued snow fall make the road icy and slippery. I watched as cars were trying to travel in a some what straight line. Many of the cars were making a more artistic drive down the road. If I were a fan of art, and had the courage to share the road with these artists, I wouldn't have had to trudge through the snow drifts in street clothes, and street shoes.

It was one mile as the crows fly, but the only thing flying that day was the snow. Going up, down, and literally into the drifts probably add another half mile to my journey.

Heading for the home strip, the house is in sight. Only hundreds of feet left. I finally made it home, to warmth, and a hot meal. But, tomorrow when the storm has passed, I will make the same journey, but the beauty of the snow will have waned, and the looming class finals will have done the same to my spirit.

As for the other topic in your hub, what can a single person do to make positive changes?

That is one of the reasons why the country is based on the representatives that we vote into office to do our bidding.

Unfortunately, the system went septic about two hundred years ago.

Like the nightmare about building robots to do our dirty work, and then having the robots considered us superfluous, so have the political parties that were supposed to represent us.

Without the cooperation of these elected officials, there really isn't much that the individual or the few can do to change the system. We are based on the majority wins, unless of course you are well funded, and politically powerful, it is difficult to direct the herds of sheep, we call the voters to even contemplate the change.

JFK got it wrong, instead of his Ask not what the country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country, it should be, why doesn't the country resemble the creation of its founders?

They say that Justice is Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, but that also describes the three branches of our government.

I like your intention which is like the saying, In a world of darkness, it is better to light a single candle than bitch about the darkness.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but the shortest distance to your wallet is the US Congress.

Sorry I had to cut this short. lol

Sally Gulbrandsen 2 years agofrom Norfolk

I am with you Billy and I love the idea of paying it forward. Last week I won something which someone else hoped they would win. I gave it to them because I wanted to, not for any other reason. I hope this counts as an act of kindness. I love the feeling it gives me inside when I do something nice for someone, especially when they are not expecting it, seems a good reason to keep on doing it.

Sally

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Chateaudumer, then I wish you a very long life. :) Thank you for the visit and comment.

David B Katague 2 years agofrom Northern California and the Philippines

Yes, Bill I am with you all the way. Another hub worth my time. As the saying goes, You only lived if you have touched the life of others. Cheers !

I think about kindness everyday...And one thing I do is smile at everyone I come in contact with. I try to realize that we all have a journey and sometimes others don't fall into step with mine...but working at understanding.....I also want to note that you had that responsibility to shovel the snow and we honored our parent's wishes. Today kids do as little as possible and want all that they can get... (not all of course)...but enough of them to be truly aware of our entitled kids growing up...into a difficult era. So there are many ways to give others...and it is true that it does make you feel really good,

manatita44 2 years agofrom london

Funny thing about giving. It makes us all feel 'pretty darned good' as you say. This is very real and very meaningful. The cop thing was awesome, too. keep the Faith, Bro.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

A very long way, Sha! Thanks for stopping by with your snow shovel. I'll meet you down the block and we'll have hot chocolate when we finish. :)

Shauna L Bowling 2 years agofrom Central Florida

I'm with you, Bill. It's the little things that count. We can all do little things that have a huge impact on someone's day - or life. A little kindness goes a long way.

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Ruby, had I known, I would have been on your porch in my little jumper suit and snow shovel. :) Thank you as always...let's get out there and start shoveling.

Ruby Jean Fuller 2 years agofrom Southern Illinois

I'm with you Bill. Let's make each day a better day because we cared enough to give, to help, and smile. Love this. I sure needed a little Bill to shovel my snow...

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Good morning, Ann. You are up early on this cheeky morning. LOL Not really, but I wanted to try out "cheeky" for no reason whatsoever. Have fun with the children and I'll just continue to slave over the computer keys.

Thank you!

Bill

Author

Bill Holland 2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Thank you as always, Janine. Isn't it amazing what a simple act of kindness can do for someone? And how good it makes us feel? Make me wonder why others don't do it more often.

Happy Tuesday my loyal friend.

Ann Carr 2 years agofrom SW England

Certainly am with you, bill! It makes such a difference and doesn't it make us feel good too (not that that's the primary aim of course)?

The butterfly effect is amazing; a big Mexican wave all around the world.

Superb message, bill. You are so good at these; I'm off to see the children and I'll tell them too.

Have a wonderful Tuesday, bill!

Ann

Janine Huldie 2 years agofrom New York, New York

I am with you Bill and this was absolutely beautifully written and loved the analogy behind your snow day. It takes so little to pay it forward and make others happy and you are truly so right about this. I try very hard as much as I can each day to remember this, too. Thanks though for the more than gentle reminder here and wishing you an amazing Tuesday ahead of you now.